Stories by Marisa Fernandez

Telecom giant Charter agrees to record consumer fraud settlement

Photo: Yvonne Hemsey via Getty Images

New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced a record $174.2 million consumer fraud settlement Tuesday with Charter Communications and Spectrum Management Holding Company for defrauding internet subscribers.

Details: 700,000 consumers will receive direct refunds totaling $62.5 million, believed to be the largest single payout by an internet service provider in U.S. history. Approximately 2.2 million subscribers will also receive free streaming services and premium channels at a retail value of more than $100 million.

Background: In 2017, the New York attorney general's office filed a complaint alleging Charter was not giving customers the internet speed or reliability it promised. Its alleged failures include leasing out equipment that was deficient and charging more for download speeds while failing to maintain the appropriate network capacity.

The big picture: Left-leaning states are cracking down on telecom companies as federal regulators loosen the rules that govern internet providers like Charter, Comcast and AT&T.

Trump Foundation to dissolve after lawsuit with New York attorney general

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

The Trump Foundation has agreed to dissolve in compliance with a lawsuit from New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, which alleged that the charity was being used for President Trump's personal and political gain.

The big picture: While the closing of the charity is a victory for the AG's office, the broader lawsuit against the foundation, which seeks $2.8 million in restitution and penalties as well as a ban on Trump's children from serving on the board of other New York charities, will continue.

The dissolution of the foundation comes after The Washington Post reported that its funds were being used to pay off legal settlements for Trump's private businesses, including purchasing art from one of his clubs and making an illegal political donation.

Underwood said the investigation found “a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation — including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more."

What's next: The foundation’s remaining $1.75 million will be distributed to other charities approved by Underwood's office and a state judge.

Flashback: Following his 2016 election win, Trump said he would dissolve the foundation to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest. But the attorney general’s office had stated that doing so would require the state's approval, given its investigation.

Details: Millions of tweets received by 778 journalists and politicians in 2017 were surveyed to label any abuse targeted at gender, race and sexuality.

The findings show abusive tweets were sent to all female members in U.S. Congress and U.K. parliament, as well as a number of other prominent female political journalists.

Black women were 84% more likely than white women to be mentioned in abusive tweets.

What they're saying: "We have the data to back up what women have long been telling us — that Twitter is a place where racism, misogyny and homophobia are allowed to flourish basically unchecked," Milena Marin, senior adviser for Tactical Research at Amnesty International, said in a statement.